Electric steam generator



Dec.. 25, 1934. w. NOSARZEWSKI ELEGTRI C STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 7,1955 fizz/622502" ZZ/Q CZQM f osar aws 2L M r M 0% Patented Dec. 25,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to electric steam generators adapted to generatesteam without providing the conventional type of boiler and which isespecially adapted to supply steam in small quantities for toy machinesand the like,

and in numerous other devices wherein it is desirable to have availablesmall quantities of steam, such for example as in steaming fine fabricsor garments. The device may also be manufactured in large sizes toprovide steam in sufficient volume to motivate factory and otherequipment and meet the usual commercial requirements for steam powerwhere steam is preferable to electricity as power.

The invention has among its objects the provision of an improved steamgenerator of the kind described which is capable of generating steam athigh temperature in either large or small quantities with a minimum lossof heat energy.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a'device of the kinddescribed which is simple, compact, durable, reliable, eificient andsatisfactory for its intended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device taken alongthe line 1--1 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device comprises anouter steam chest taking the form of a hollow cylindrical shell 10having a closed end 11 and the other end open and an inner steam chesttaking the form of a cylindrical member 12 positioned within andconcentric with the shell 10. The member 12 has an interiorly threadedaxial stem 13 at its inner end by means of which it is fastened to theclosed end 11 of the shell by a bolt 14.

i A sleeve 32, preferably of porcelain or other heat conducting andelectrical insulating material, is mounted on the member 12 and has aflange 34 fitting the inner periphery of the shell 10 and closing thespace between the shell and member. The cylindrical member 12 is heldagainst movement relative to the shell 10 by the bolt 14 which isthreaded to clamp a pair of gaskets 15 against the end 11 of the shell.A segmental flange section 19 on the outer end of the member 12 ispositioned in an annular groove 31 formed in the end of the shell 10.The groove 31 extends entirely around the shell 10 and provides a guidefor the member 12, permitting the member 12 to be mounted in any desiredrotative position relative to the shell 10 with the flange section 19positioned in the groove. The outer steam chest or shell 10 and theinner steam chest or chamber 12 are quickly and easily disassembled bymanipulation of the bolt 14. The outer end of the member 12 is alsoprovided with a projecting lug 13 having an opening 21 with which aninlet pipe 16 has a threaded connection.

The opening 21 is connected with a channel 20 providing a steam chamberor chest in the member 12. The channel 20 extends substantially the fulllength of the member 12, and, as shown in cross section in Fig. 2comprises a plurality of sinuous overlapping portions. A chamber 22connects the inner end of the channel 20 with an axial bore 23 in thebolt 1 1. An annular recess 25 in the outer periphery of the bolt 14 anda radial duct 24 in the boltconnects the axial bore with a duct 26 inthe closed end 11 of the shell 10.

The side wall of the shell 10 is apertured to provide a cylindricalchamber or steam chest 29 extending substantially the full length of theshell. A pair of closely spaced ribs 42, projecting from the closed endof the shell 10, form a narrow passage 27. The ribs 42 stop short of theopposite end of the cylindrical chamber or steam chest 29 therebyproviding outlets or ports on each side connecting the passage 27 withthe main body of the cylindrical steam chest. The duct 26 opens into theclosed end of the passage 27 and thereby permits the contents of thesteam chest or channel 20 to flow into the cylindrical chamber 29 of theshell 10. A pipe 17 connected with the steam chest 29 by a recess 30formed in the closed end of the shell 10, permits the steam generated inthe steam chests 26 and 29 to be drawn off as needed for doing work orto be discharged into a steam storage chamber, not shown.

Water entering the device through the inlet pipe 16, is quickly changedto steam by an electric heating unit comprising a coil 22 wound aboutthe sleeve 32. A cord 37 provides a pair of conductors r 35 and 36 whichare connected with a source of electrical energy not shown. The coil 33is connected at one end with the conductor 35, the latter extendingthrough an aperture 38 in the flange 34 of the sleeve 32. The other endof the coil 33 is connected with the conductor 36, the latter beingpositioned in an aperture 39 extending the full length of the sleeve 32.A convex projection 41 on the sleeve 32 is positioned in a cooperatingconcave groove 40 in the member 12 thereby preventing rotation of thesleeve relative to the member and permitting the sleeve to be easilymounted upon or removed from the member by longitudinal movementthereof.

The shell 10 and the member 12 are mounted in a housing 9, the latterhaving apertures adapted to register with the inlet opening 21 and thedischarge opening or recess 30 and permit the pipes 16 and 17 to berespectively connected therewith upon assembly of the device andmounting it on the housing. The cord 37 projects through the housing 9and is fastened by means of a well known fastening device 44 as shown inFig. 1. The space between the housing 9 and the shell 10 is filled withanysuitable insulating material 43 such as asbestos or the like.

In operation the inlet pipe 16 may be connected with any suitable sourceof water supply and the coil 33 is heated by connecting the conductors35 and 36 with any suitable source of electrical energy. The sinuosityof the steam chest 20 is adapted to rapidly heat the liquid contents asit provides a relatively large contact area of the low temperature steamwith the heated member 12. The fluid contents of the steam chest 20 inthe form of steam passes into the cylindrical chamber 29 where the steamis superheated and is discharged through the outlet pipe 17. The member12 thereby generates steam at a low temperature and the shell 10 servesas a superheater. The construction is such that the advancing steam isconstantly subjected to direct contact with the heated surface of steamchests 12 and 10. The wet steam generated at the inlet end of the member12 flows the full length of the member, then in the opposite directionthrough the passage 27, and again in the opposite direction through thecylindrical steam chamber 29 where it is super heated.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same and that any type ofelectric unit may be used without departing from the spirit or" myinvention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of partsherein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A boilerless steam generator of the kind described comprising a shellhaving its side walls apertured to provide a closed chamber extendingaround and substantially the full length of the shell, a memberpositioned within and extending longitudinally of the shell, anelectrical heating unit positioned within the shell and surrounding saidmember in closely spaced relation to the shell and member, said memberproviding a closed chamber extending substantially its full length, apipe providing an inlet for said member at one end of the generator, apipe providing an outlet for said shell at the other end of thegenerator, and a conduit connecting the end of said member opposite toits inlet end with the end of said shell opposite to its outlet end.

2. A boilerless steam generator of the kind described comprising a shellhaving its side walls apertured to provide a closed chamber extendingaround and substantially the full length of the shell, a memberpositioned within and extending longitudinally of the shell, anelectrical heating unit positioned within the shell and surrounding saidmember in closely spaced relation to the shell and member, said memberproviding a closed chamber extending substantially its full length andcomprising a shallow aperture having a laterally undulating tortuouscross-section, a pipe providing an inlet for said member at one end ofthe generator, a pipe providing an outlet for said shell at the otherend of the generator, and a conduit connecting the end of said memberopposite, its inlet end with the end of said shell opposite its outletend.

3. A boilerless steam generator of the kind described comprising a shellhaving one closed end, and its side walls apertured to provide a closedchamber extending around and substantially the full length of the shell,a member positioned with in and extending longitudinally of the shellwith its inner end abutting the closed end of said shell, an electricalheating unit positioned within the shell and surrounding said member inclosely spaced relation to the shell and member, said member providing aclosed chamber extending substantially its full length, a pipe providingan inlet for said member at its outer end, a pipe providing an outletfor said shell adjacent its closed end, means connecting the closed endof said shell with the adjacent end of said member, said means providinga longitudinal bore connected with the chamber in said member and atransverse aperture providing an outlet for said bore, the end wall ofsaid shell providing a closed duct connected with said transverseaperture, the side walls of said shell providing a closed duct havingone end opening into its chamber adjacent the open end of said shell andthe other end connected with said duet in the closed end.

4. A boilerless steam generator of the kind de scribed comprising ashell having one closed end, and its side walls apertured to provide aclosed chamber extending around and substantially the full length of theshell, a member positioned within and extending longitudinally of theshell with its inner end abutting the closed end of said shell, anelectrical heating unit positioned within the shell and surrounding saidmember in closely spaced relation to the shell and member, said memberproviding a closed chamber extending substantially its full length, apipe providing an inlet for said member at its outer end, a pipeproviding an outlet for said shell adjacent its closed end, meansconnecting the closed end of said shell with the adjacent end of saidmember, said means providing a longitudinal bore connected with thechamber in said member and a transverse aperture providing an outlet forsaid bore, the end wall of said shell providing a closed duct connectedwith said transverse aperture, the side walls of said shell providing aclosed duct having one end opening into its chamber adjacent the openend of said shell and the other end connected with said duct in theclosed end, and means closing the space between said shell and member atthe open end of said shell.

5. A boilerless steam generator of the kind described comprising anouter cylindrical shell having one closed end and its side wallsapertured to provide a closed chamber extending around and substantiallythe full length of the shell, a cylindrical member positioned within andextending longitudinally of the shell with its inner end abutting theclosed end of said shell, an electrical heating unit positioned withinthe shell and surrounding said member in closely spaced relation to theshell and member, said member providing a closed chamber extendingsubstantially its full length and comprising a shallow aperture having alaterally undulating tortuous cross-section, an inlet pipe connectedwith the chamber in said chamber adjacent its outer end, a pipeconnected with the chamber in said shell adjacent its closed end, a boltextending through the closed end of said shell and threaded into theadjacent end of said member, said bolt providing a longitudinal boreconnected with the chamber in said member and a radial apertureproviding an outlet for said bore, the end wall of said shell providinga closed duct connected with said radial aperture, the side wall of saidshell providing a closed duct having one end opening into its chamberadjacent the open end of said shell and the other end connected withsaid duct in its closed end.

6. A boilerless steam generator of the kind described comprising anouter cylindrical shell having one closed end and its side wallsapertured to provide a closed chamber extending around and substantiallythe full length of the shell, a cylindrical member positioned within andextending longitudinally of the shell with its inner end abutting theclosed end of said shell, an electrical heating unit positioned withinthe shell and surrounding said member in closely spaced relation to theshell and member, said member providing a closed chamber extendingsubstantially its full length and comprising a shallow aperture having alaterally undulating tortuous cross-section, an inlet pipe connectedwith the chamber in said member adjacent its outer end, a pipe connectedwith the chamber in said shell adjacent its closed end, a bolt extendingthrough the closed end of said shell and threaded into the adjacent endof said member, said bolt providing a longitudinal bore connected withthe chamber in said member and a radial aperture providing an outlet forsaid bore, the end wall of said shell providing a closed duct connectedwith said radial aperture, the side wall of said shell providing aclosed duct having one end opening into its chamber adjacent the openend of said shell and the other end connected with said duct in itsclosed end, and means closing the space between said shell and member atthe open end of said shell.

WACLAW NOSARZEWSKI.

